| Drinking wine is one of those luxuries that can quickly | | | | on stickers. You need to use different techniques to |
| become a full blown habit. The more you get into it, the | | | | remove each. |
| more you will want to document your wine | | | | For glue adhered labels, the first step is to fill the bottle |
| experiences. Keeping a journal of your wine | | | | with really hot water. Now place the bottle in a |
| experiences is a common step, but so is wine label | | | | container that allows for water to be sit up to and |
| collecting. | | | | above the label. A water pitcher will often work. Now |
| What is wine label collecting? Well, it is a simple way to | | | | fill that with really hot water as well until the water is |
| document the vintages you have tried. After finishing | | | | above the label. Wait five minutes. Now slowly pull on |
| the bottle, you typically remove the label and put it into | | | | the BACK label every minute or so until it moves |
| your wine journal. A good journal, such as a Nomad | | | | freely. Once you the back label is moving freely, the |
| Wine Journal, will have a space for you to then take | | | | front should be ready as well. Pull it off slowly. Take |
| notes on the flavor, aroma and other characteristics of | | | | the wet label and place it in your collecting journal. The |
| the wine. | | | | glue should adhere to the journal page. Make sure to |
| As time passes, you will compile a rather large | | | | towel off the top to avoid warping. |
| collection of wine labels as well as your thoughts on | | | | The process with adhesive labels is similar, but also a |
| each bottle. This can be used in two ways. First, it | | | | bit simpler. Fill the bottle with as hot a water as |
| helps you to refine your tastes. Second, it gives you a | | | | possible. Now let it sit for five minutes and start testing |
| quick reference of wines you like so you know what | | | | the back label until it pulls off. There is no need to put |
| to buy on the spur of the moment when you suddenly | | | | the bottle in a container with hot water. Just wait until |
| need a bottle for a dinner or wine tasting party. | | | | you can remove the front label. Once you can, put it in |
| The first step in wine label collecting is, obviously, the | | | | your journal. The label should adhere naturally to the |
| removal of the label from the bottle. There steps to | | | | page. |
| successfully removing the label in one piece first | | | | Wine label collecting is habit forming and an excellent |
| require you to figure out how the label is adhered to | | | | way to keep track of your experiences. Make sure to |
| the bottle. European wines tend to use glue. In contrast, | | | | practice on some cheaper bottles of wine first until |
| other areas tend to use adhesives similar those found | | | | you have your technique down pat. |